Computational mechanisms for colour and lightness constancy

Attributes of colour images have been found which allow colour and lightness constancy to be computed without prior knowledge of the illumination, even in complex scenes with three -dimensional objects and multiple light sources of different colours. The ratio of surface reflectance colour can be immediately determined between any two image points, however distant. It is possible to determine the number of spectrally independent light sources, and to isolate the effect of each. Reflectance edges across which the illumination remains constant can be correctly identified.In a scene illuminated by multiple distant point sources of distinguishalbe colours, the spatial angle between the sources and their brightness ratios can be computed from the image alone. If there are three or more sources then reflectance constancy is immediately possible without use of additional knowledge.The results are an extension of Edwin Land's Retinex algorithm. They account for previously unexplained data such as Gilchrist's veiling luminances and his single- colour rooms.The validity of the algorithms has been demonstrated by implementing them in a series of computer programs. The computational methods do not follow the edge or region finding paradigms of previous vision mechanisms. Although the new reflectance constancy cues occur in all normal scenes, it is likely that human vision makes use of only some of them.In a colour image all the pixels of a single surface colour lie in a single structure in flux space. The dimension of the structure equals the number of illumination colours. The reflectance ratio between two regions is determined by the transformation between their structures. Parallel tracing of edge pairs in their respective structures identifies an edge of constant illumination, and gives the lightness ratio of each such edge. Enhanced noise reduction techniques for colour pictures follow from the natural constraints on the flux structures

Review: Extending Visible Band Computer Vision Techniques to Infrared Band Images

Infared imaging process bears many similarities to the visible imaging process. If visible band computer vision techniques can be used on infrared images with no or small adjustments it would save us the trouble of redeveloping a whole new set of techniques. However, there are important differences in the practical environmental parameters between visible and infrared bands that invalidates many convenient background assumptions inherent to visible-band computer vision techniques. We review here the underlying reasons why some computer vision techniques can while some cannot be applied directly to infrared images. We also examine a few attempts to extend computer vision to infrared images and discuss their relative merits

Modelling the human perception of shape-from-shading

Shading conveys information on 3-D shape and the process of recovering this information is called shape-from-shading (SFS). This thesis divides the process of human SFS into two functional sub-units (luminance disambiguation and shape computation) and studies them individually. Based on results of a series of psychophysical experiments it is proposed that the interaction between first- and second-order channels plays an important role in disambiguating luminance. Based on this idea, two versions of a biologically plausible model are developed to explain the human performances observed here and elsewhere. An algorithm sharing the same idea is also developed as a solution to the problem of intrinsic image decomposition in the field of image processing. With regard to the shape computation unit, a link between luminance variations and estimated surface norms is identified by testing participants on simple gratings with several different luminance profiles. This methodology is unconventional but can be justified in the light of past studies of human SFS. Finally a computational algorithm for SFS containing two distinct operating modes is proposed. This algorithm is broadly consistent with the known psychophysics on human SFS

Developing a spectral and colorimetric database of artist paint materials

As the project of the author\u27s Master\u27s thesis, the development of a spectral and colorimetric database of artist paint materials for acrylic paints was started. The goal of this research project was to: - provide the academic resource of colorant spectral characteristics - give scientifc explanations on various paint-particular phenomena (paint mixing, gloss effects and color gamut expansion by varnishing) These tasks were planned to satisfy possible interests on paint research from not only conservators in museums but also color educators in schools and color reproduction engineers in imaging companies

Tapestries revealed : novel methods of characterisation, conservation and presentation

The digital conservation of cultural heritage has received significant attention in recent years. This active area of research endeavors to digitally conserve culturally significant items. The digital archives produced serve as an important resource for conservators. These records allow the accurate tracking of the degradation of the materials used in the construction of these artefacts.This project outlines the digital conservation and subsequent presentation of a historically significant tapestry held by the Royal Collection at Hampton Court Palace. The tapestry is one of The Story of Abraham set constructed by Willem de Kempeneer in Brussels in the 1540s. These tapestries were commissioned by King Henry VIII and were displayed as a reflection of his wealth and power. The materials used in their construction included wool, silk, silver and gold threads. The objectives of the Thesis are as follows:1) To digitally conserve the tapestry, the Oath and Departure of Eliezer.2) To produce a colorimetrically accurate projection system. This system will be used to project an accurate representation of the original tapestry colours onto the current photofaded version.3) To investigate the photo-fading properties of the natural dyes used to produce the Oath and Departure of Eliezer and their interactions with the metallic threads woven within the tapestry.The work presented in this Thesis contributed to a visitor exhibition called "Henry VIII's Tapestries Revealed" held at Hampton Court Palace between April 2009-October 2010 as part of Historic Royal Palaces' celebrations of the 500th anniversary of Henry VIII's accession to the throne.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Realistic visualisation of cultural heritage objects

This research investigation used digital photography in a hemispherical dome, enabling a set of 64 photographic images of an object to be captured in perfect pixel register, with each image illuminated from a different direction. This representation turns out to be much richer than a single 2D image, because it contains information at each point about both the 3D shape of the surface (gradient and local curvature) and the directionality of reflectance (gloss and specularity). Thereby it enables not only interactive visualisation through viewer software, giving the illusion of 3D, but also the reconstruction of an actual 3D surface and highly realistic rendering of a wide range of materials. The following seven outcomes of the research are claimed as novel and therefore as representing contributions to knowledge in the field: A method for determining the geometry of an illumination dome; An adaptive method for finding surface normals by bounded regression; Generating 3D surfaces from photometric stereo; Relationship between surface normals and specular angles; Modelling surface specularity by a modified Lorentzian function; Determining the optimal wavelengths of colour laser scanners; Characterising colour devices by synthetic reflectance spectra